Thomas clary adams



(No Model.)

T. 0. ADAMS.

TIN CAN.

No. 824,512. Patented Aug. 18,1885.

WITNESSES INVENTOR a,, cf/xzaw g BY Jig/WM ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, PhcQo-Lilhegmpher. Washington. RC.

NITED STATES PATENT rricn.

THOMAS CLARY ADAMS, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND HENRY HOLSTEN, OF SAME PLACE.

TIN CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 324,512, dated August 18, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS CLARY ADAMS, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tin Cans, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

My invention relates, first, to the construction of the covers for tin cans, with special reference to providing the same with means for opening the can, and, secondly, to the employment with the cover and can of a cutting or opening device for severing the top of the cover from the can.

The invention consists in the construction,

arrangement, and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate n corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side View of a can and cover applied thereto made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same on the line as w of Fig. 1, showing, in

dotted lines, the top portion of the cover severed from the can and lifted slightly from the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on line 3/ y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the knife or opening device; and Fig.

0 5 is a perspective view of the top of the can and cover, the latter provided with a spring to hold the top portion closed when severed for opening the can.

The body A of the can is of the usual con- 3 5 struction, and may be of any desired size. The cover 13 is formed with the flange B, which has the outwardly-projecting rib 1) formed in it, to form a space surrounding the can to receive the cutting or opening device 0. This rib b, it will be noticed, is pressed into a sharp angle, the apeX of which is of course somewhat weakened, as will be readily understood. This weakening is not sufficient to endanger breakage or leakage, but is for the purpose of allow- 4 5 ing the cutting device to readily sever the rib at the apex of its angle. In tin. or paper covers, for instance, the outer skin or surface at the apex of the angular rib would crack, which would render the cutting easier than where the rib was rounded, as has been done in previous constructions. The lower portion,

b, of the flange B is to be soldered to the can,

as shown at If, Fig. 2. The opening or cut ting device 0 is made annular in form, with free ends 0 c, and its outer edge may be made sharp, like a knife, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

or it may be notched or serrated at its outer edge, as shown in Fig. 4.

The annular cutting device is formed of wire, and, as shown in Fig. 2, is beveled from its inner to its outer edge to form a sharp cutting-edge, which, as before stated, may be plain or serrated.

Near one of its ends the device 0 is provided with a handle attachment, d, which projects 6 from a small opening in the rim 1), as shown clearly in the drawings, so that when the can is to be opened this handle d may be grasped and the opening device or cutter O drawn outward to sever the upper portion of the cover B from the lower portion, 1), at the edge of the rib I), thus permitting the top of the cover to be re moved from the can, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In some cases, where it is desirable to close 7 5 the can after it. has been opened to preserve a part of its contents, the rib b will not be cut entirely around the can; but a short space (as between lines a a, Fig. 5) will be left to form a hinge for the upperportion of the cover, and a spring, D, will be attached to the can by sol der or otherwise, to press against the cover to hold it closed, as illustrated clearly in said Fig. 5.

By constructing the can as described no dif- 8 5 ficulty will be experienced in opening the can, and the can is practical and cheap, and the cover may be removed without destroying the body A of the can, and my can and opening device are applicable to paper boxes and glass 0 and stone jars, and with the latter a rubber band may be used, to make the can air-tight.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a can and a cover 5 formed with an angular hollow rib in its flange, of an annular wire cutter beveled from its inner to its outer edge to form a cutting-edge,

which cutting-edge engages thehollow rib at the apex of its angle, substantially as set forth.

having the hollow rib b, and the cutter 0 within 5 said rib, and having a serrated cutting-edge,

substantially as set forth.

ribbed, as shown at b, in combination with the cutter .0, can A, and. spring D, arranged t0v pressitpon the top of the cover B, suhstan r0 tially as and for the purposes set forth.

I THOMAS OLABY ADAMS.

Witnesses:

EDGAR TATE,

J No, 1VIATHEW BITTER.

2. The combination, with a can, of a cover 3. The cover B, formed with the flange B, 

